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Sociopathic Capitalism - The New Economy


My Dad is in prison and I never see or talk to him.

Overview

Originally Published: 11/04/2013

Post Date: 11/04/2013

by Tim Cheney


Video

Summary/Abstract

Chooper's Guide editorial addressing Prison Profiteering by prison telephone companies

Content

We at Chooper’s Guide are committed to social justice and we are outraged and sickened by the extent of the corporate greed that has infected American Society. We are proud to use the Chooper’s Guide platform to help elevate awareness of how these businesses have created a predatory, government sanctioned business model that financially rapes the families of those incarcerated in America. Once again, this is a follow the money proposition. State and Federal prisons grant exclusive contractual arrangements with service providers in return for kickbacks that they kindly refer to as commissions. An overmedicated and apathetic America has been herded like a flock of sheep into a paddock designed by corporate America, sanctioned by the well compensated government and managed by the media. These questions plague my existentially oriented mind on a daily basis. The questions are:

  • Have we lost our moral compass and with it the respect for human rights and the value for human life?
  • Does the majority of America care anymore or has it become self centered to the point of narcissism?
  • Is "It is what it is" good enough? Sound like resignation to me.

America, "the leader of the free world", currently has 25% of the worlds prison population (2.3 million) and yet has only 5% of the world's population. Houston, we have a major problem. There seems to be a disconnect between law enforcement and social policy and human rights. The victims are the usual suspects for the most part. Economically disadvantaged, poorly educated people assigned the classification of non productive members of society. Inner city populations are targeted and pillaged. Recent studies estimate that one in three black males will be incarcerated within their lifetime. Doesn't sound like civil rights to me but rather a familiar wolf is masquerading in sheeps clothing.

All human beings need contact with people that care. We all need to feel that we are not alone.  This article and video should incite a visceral response of disgust and outrage in any reader that is still awake. Please share it and please take a few moments, it took me 20 seconds, to let the FCC know that this practice is immoral.

 

The Article 

Prison phone companies shouldn’t be able to profit off families

ACLU

Today, 2.7 million children have a parent behind bars. For these kids, losing a parent to incarceration can be as traumatic as losing a parent to death or divorce.(1) Prisoners are often housed hundreds of miles from their families, making phone the only way to connect on a routine basis.

But for-profit prison phone companies like Global Tel*Link have gotten away with charging sky-high rates to prisoners and their families, making it too expensive for families to stay connected. Prisoners are charged up to $17 for a 15-minute phone call—a call that might cost $2 outside of prison.

Phone companies shouldn’t be able to profit off prisoners trying to be good parents and good family members. Steep prices mean many prisoners won't be able to call home as often, and that's bad for public safety—when prisoners keep in touch with their families, they are less likely to reoffend and wind up back behind bars.(2)

The Federal Communications Commission took an important first step in August by capping the price of prisoner phone calls made from one state to another at 25 cents per minute. But most prisoners are serving time in their home state. Tell the FCC to finish the job and end this predatory practice for all prison phone calls.

To the Federal Communications Commission:

For far too long, prison phone companies have gotten away with charging sky-high rates to prisoners and their families. Capping state-to-state phone calls was a start, but most prisoners are serving time in their home state.

When prisoners keep in touch wth their families, they are lessi likely to reoffend later and kids are better off. It’s time to cap in-state prison phone rates at a price families can afford.

Sign the petition urging the Federal Communications Commission to cap in-state prison phone rates at a fair price.

Global Tel*Link profits off love, charging prisoners as much as $17 for a 15-minute phone call. Tell the FCC to set prices families can afford.

Click Here to Sign Petition

The video above is part of the Prison Profiteers series produced by Brave New Foundation's Beyond Bars campaign in partnership with the ACLU and The Nation. Narration by Henry Rollins. Research help provided by Prison Legal News.


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